Romanian mum jailed for £120,000 shoplifting spree in Boots
A Romanian mother who stuffed perfume and cosmetics down her skirt in a £120,000 shoplifting spree at Boots was jailed for 32 months.
Bianca Mirica, 20, admitted 30 charges of theft from branches of the high street chemist across London between December 2023 and May 2024.
Mirica has three previous convictions for similar offences dating back to her arrival in the UK five years ago, Southwark Crown Court heard.
She stole almost £17,000 worth of items in one thieving expedition at Boots in Hornchuch, east London, on 7 March 2024,
On another occasion she made off with ten Yves Saint Laurent concealers, totalling £300.
Wearing a red t-shirt and perched on a couch, Mirica appeared today (mon) on a video-link from HMP Bronzefield rocking her month-old baby in her arms.
She was assisted throughout the hearing by a Romanian interpreter at the jail which also houses aristocrat Aristocrat Marten, who killed her newborn baby and Beinash Batool who murdered her 10-year-old step-daughter Sara Sharif.
Ben Wild, prosecuting, earlier said the offences related to ‘group shoplifting from December 2023 to May 2024.
‘None of the goods were recovered, all of the goods relate to fragrances or cosmetics.
‘Effectively, it involves groups of apparently Romanian females concealing the products in long skirts or pockets, distracting security and on one occasion, Ms Mirica using a small key.’
Scott Tuppen, defending, earlier said Mirica has three young children and one suffers from a significant heart issue.
He claimed her husband provides a ‘firm financial footing’ for the family and referred to his client’s ‘remorse’ for committing the thefts.
Sentencing Mirica, Judge Sally-Ann Hales, KC, said: ‘You are now 20 years old, you were 19 when you committed these offences.
‘The pre-sentence report indicates you arrived in the UK approximately five years ago…between 6 November 2019 and 24 September 2024 you have accrued three convictions for five offences – all are offences of theft or going equipped for theft.
‘They all relate to very similar offences of shoplifting.’
The judge said the mother-of-three had been ‘largely uncooperative’ with police in interview following her arrest.
‘You denied involvement in a broader criminal enterprise, you claimed that the goods stolen were for your personal use and that you made no financial gain.
‘In short, you sought to minimise your offending and showed little if any insight into your behaviour.
‘Your suggestion that you stole the goods for personal grooming purposes is patently untrue.’
She added: ‘Like the author of the pre-sentence report, I very much doubt you are sorry for committing these offences.
‘Over a period of six months you’ve committed 18 organised and high value thefts.
‘You were brazen about it.
‘Walking into a store, clearing the shelves or a cabinet and walking out.’
Mirica was ‘clearly seen equipped with a cabinet key’ during the most high-value theft.
She was handed 32 months immediate imprisonment and will serve 40% of the term at the mothers-and-babies unit at HMP Bronzefield before being released on licence.
The Romanian appeared unmoved on videolink as she was sentenced.
Mirica, of Haringey, earlier admitted 30 counts of theft relating to goods worth £119,318 stolen from Boots at various locations across London including Islington, the West End, Kensington, Harrow and Haringey.
None of the stolen items have been recovered.
The court will consider an application for a criminal behaviour order against Mirica on 8 September this year.
ENDS
